Device for giving correct notes and harmonies in mouth organs



April 23, 1929 E, GLASS 1,710,502

DEVICE FOR GIVING CORRECT NOTES AND HARMONIES IN MOUTH ORGANS Filed Aug.25, 1926 Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT ()FFICE.

ERNST GLASS, or TROSSINGEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR To MATTH. HOHNER-AKT. ens,or TROSSINGEN, wURT'EMnERe, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR GIVING CORRECT NOTES AN D HARMONIESIN MOUTH ORGANSApplication filed August 23, 1926,.Serial No. 130,852, and in GermanyMay 12, 1926.

The present invention relates to an improvement on the existing devicesfor giving correct notes and chords in mouth organs, in which avmouthpiece is provided on the one hand and a slide provided with holeson the other in order to enable the desired combination of notes to beproduced. Ac cording to the present invention this device isconsiderably simplified in that the mouthpiece and slide are in onepiece so that the desired note can be readily and accurately adjustedand produced with certainty. Given a suitable arrangement of the notes,

that is, a suitable arrangement or formation of the blowing orifices,.the device can also serve as a harmonizer.

The new device .is characterized not only by its simplicity ofconstruction and superior adjustability, but also by economy of materialand increased possibilities of application. Its construction alsoadapts" it for mass production by machinery. Finally the instruments arestrongerthan those hitherto known. i

A typical embodiment of the subject of the present invention is more'fully illustrated in the drawing Figures 1 and 2 are respectively afront elevation and plan of the instrument.

Figures 3 and 4 are an end elevation and cross section of the same.

Figure 5 is a bottom'view, and Figure 6 shows on a much larger scale abottom view of the braking spring arrangement of the mouthpiece.

The instrument is a kind of mouth organ the reeds a of which aresituated as usual in or above the holes of the mouth board 6 and arecaused to sound by blowing or suction. They are enclosed in a soundingor protective casing 0 made in the usual manner which is legiblyimpressed with a scale of notes (5 corresponding to the range of theinstrument and also with the lettering e of the notes.

The blowing side otthe instrument is provided with a strip f providedwith blowing.

apertures 1 corresponding to the chambers in which the reeds arelocated. This strip also serves as aguidc for the sliding mouthpiece hwhich also serves as an adjusting slide, and is provided with blowingaperlures 2'. The mouthpiece h embraces the guide strip by means of itsedges 72:, which are suitably bent round over strip f so that lappingportion k of the mouthpiece h and its ends bear elastically against theadjacent wall ofthcguide strip The spring Z is held by claws m providedon the bent over portion 7a of the mouthpiece 7:, which grip it in sucha manner that it is curved and pressed against the correspond-. 111gguide wall of the guide bar This provides a simple method of mountmg thespring-Z and all springs used in such devices are mechanically placedunder identical and correct tension.

To facilitate sliding the mouthpiece h Small upward bends n are providedat both ends of same.

lln addition means are provided to stop the mouthpiece in its twolateral terminal positions and prevent it from being pushed too far orfrom being accidentally slid off the instrument altogether. \Vith thisobject the blowing side of the cell panel I; is provided with stops forexample, in the form'of small screws 0 and the mouthpiece h is providedwith slots 29 extending so far into the bends n that the head of thestop screw 0 can engage in the slot .17 the end of which limits themovement of its mouthpiece h by coming in contact with the screw 0.

On the upper side a pointer g projecting from the mouthpiece 71. movesover the'charactors e relating to the notes, and thus facilitatescorrect adjustment for/the notes.

The number, position, dimensions and shape of the blowing. apertures 2'in the mouthpiece may be varied to any extent.

Hence, the combination of the apertures z,

the notations e, and the pointer 9, enable a person without musicaltraining to readily sound suitable chords and harmonies. I am aware ofthe fact that slidable mouthpieces for harmonicas have been previouslyproposed, but such mouthpieces did not operate to enable chords andharmonies to be sounded.

What I claim is 1. A month organ comprising a body portion having afront edge provided with openings correspolnling to the chambers inwhich the reeds of said mouth organ are located, a guide strip connectedto said front face and having apertures corresponding to said chambers,said guide strip having angular projecting portions above and below thesaid front face, a mouthpiece having angular inturned portions slidablvengaging the angular projections of the said guide strip, saidmouthpiece having associated therewith a spring adapted to slidably andfrietionally bear against the said mouth organ.

2. A mouth organ comprising a body portion having a front face providedwith openings corresponding to the chambers in which the reeds of saidmouth organ are located, a guide strip connected to said front edge andhaving openings aligned with said chambers, said guide strip havingangular projecting portions above and below said trout face, amouthpiece having inturned angular portions engaging the said angularprojecting portions of the guide strip, and a curved blade springconnected to the said mouthpiece the ends of the said blade spring beingadapted to frietionally bear against one of said angular projectingportions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ERNST GLASS.

